Halloween and All Saints’ Day

We celebrate All Saints’ Day November 1, but the early church first honored the saints in May. All Saints’ Day originated in Amy 609 or 610 A.D., to especially honor those saints with no special day named for them. It was followed by All Souls’ Day, but the distinction is not as great now; we use All Saints’ for everyone. The first All Saints’ Day was to celebrate the use of the ancient pantheon temple as a church by the Roman Emperor. In the A.D. 800s, the church made November 1 All Saints’ Day to coincide with the Celtic druid tradition. The church had a mass called Allhallowmas with the evening before called All Hallow e’en. All Hallow e’en incorporated the Celtic festival that marked the end of the growing season, also later linked to human death. Hearth fires were extinguished, and the souls of the dead were expected to return for the evening. During the celebration the next day, people lighted new year’s fires for their homes from a huge bonfire. Often people wore costumes and told fortunes as part of the festival. Over the centuries, this has evolved into the Halloween traditions now practiced on October 31. Joan Meyer

Things you probably already know

The Celtics celebrated October 31 as the eve of the festival of Samhain, Lord of the dead. All Saints’ Day was originally celebrated in May. Some scholars believe that goblins and the little people legends come from a small dark-skinned people who may have lived in Europe during the Stone Age. Matthew Hopkins, who claimed to be a witch finder, went from town to town. He developed the water test – if you floated, you were a witch; if you sank, you weren’t. He was seized after three years and was found to float. He was hanged as a witch. In Scotland, they carve turnips. If a Jack-o-lantern smashes your lamp, throw yourself on the ground and hold your breath. Apples are a token of love and fertility. (Gives new meaning to the apple for the teacher. Ed. Note 2013)